Coal-fired generation up, renewables down

During 2022, coal-fired power generation in the country soared as a result of a greater dispatch of coal-fired power plants, while energy generated with renewable sources decreased.

According to the report Highlights Wholesale Electricity Market 2022, carried out by Fresh Energy Consulting with data from Cenace, 14 thousand 194 Gigawatt-hours (GW-H) were generated last year, an increase of 63 percent with respect to 2021.

Meanwhile, solar photovoltaic generation in 2022 was 16,289 GW-H, 4.6 percent less than the previous year, and wind generation was 20,311 GW-H, 3.5 percent less than in 2021.

Casiopea Ramírez Melgar, partner at Fresh Energy Consulting, commented that the increase in the participation of fossil sources to cover energy demand and the reduction of renewables is a result of the electricity dispatch policy in which CFE power plants have preference.

"I think the numbers were very clear, the coal plants are only CFE's, there is no one else that is benefiting, so there what we are seeing is that, regardless of cost, efficiency or availability of the resource, CFE plants are having preference in being dispatched.

"The curious thing here is that demand grew (in 2022) due to the economic reactivation, but how do you decide to satisfy that demand? by reducing renewable sources and increasing thermal sources, because gas also increased," said Casiopea Ramírez.

Fossil vs. Renewable

Of the energy generated in 2022, fossil fuel technologies were prioritized.

(Figures in GW-hours)

Technology 2021 2022

Coal 8,705 14,194

Wind 21,058 20,042

Solar 17,068 16,289

Combined Cycle 184,362 194,050

Hydroelectric 34,711 35,562

Source: Fresh Energy Consulting with information from Cenace.